Operation Barkhane: French War in Africa's Sahel.

When the Sahel is threatened, Europe and France are threatened”, François Hollande

In 2014, French President François Hollande announced that French troops would be committed to combating violent Islamist militants in Africa indefinitely; to secure the Sahel region and to prevent trans-border passage of jihadist group.

The intervention effort code-named 'Operation Barkhane' after a crescent-shaped dune in the Sahara desert. Operation Barkhane would succeed Operation Serval and Operation Epervier - French military mission in Mali and Chad respectively assuming total control of both missions’ resources while operating across all G5 Sahel borders.

G5 Sahel Situation

Following the overthrow of former Libyan ruler Mohammad Ghadafi by NATO forces and local fighters in 2011, various arms and weapons looted from the military's stockpiles has found their way through the porous Sahara desert down south fueling internal crises and regional conflicts.

Operation Barkhane

Islamist extremism has been on a salient increase since the turn of the century, the Sahel region is one of the harshest environment for human survival and sustainment coupled with the usual lackadaisical attitude of African leaders to tackle the massive poverty and economic hardship witnessed in the area.

Niger Republic

The Republic of Niger and Chad both located on the edge of the Sahara are one of the poorest countries on Earth. In Niger alone, 45% of the citizens live below the international poverty line. The country has a literacy rate of just 19.1%.

Furthermore, worsening climatic conditions have increased draughts that have affected agriculture yields in the country which depends largely on its agricultural exports. In Niger, agriculture makeup for 37% of its annual GDP. The last major drought which affected the country in 2010 is still being felt.

Chad

Since gaining independence from France in 1960, Chad has continually struggled to get on its feet despite being an oil-producing nation. Corruption, Mismanagement of national funds, post-colonial interference and harsh climate has dealt severely with the country. Chad has remained one of the poorest country on Earth till date.

More than half of Chad’s population live in abject poverty. The harsh reality and daily life is a reminder that poor planning, weak implementation and mismanagement destroys a country faster than anything else.

This disturbing declining economic posture, low literacy level and frustration at the government's inability to show any semblance of proficiency has led to this region being a fertile ground for recruiting disenfranchised populace into terror organisations.

Sahel under threat

Known by defense pundits as ‘AN ARC OF INSTABILITY’ this is a large expanse of landmass plagued by violent extremism in the Sahel, terror groups such as Boko Haram, Al Qaeda continually challenge the peace and stability of the region.

Failed government, corruption, foreign interference and spillover from the crises in Libya has spurred a complex web of transnational terror network. In 2012, al Qaeda linked group took control of towns and territories in Northern Mali bringing the Sahel into international limelight.

After years of intense battle to dislodge the terrorists they began moving southwards, prompting the French military to swing into action. The French-led Operation Serval pushed the extremist back.

A French soldier from the 12th Armored Division uses his binoculars while standing atop an armored vehicle during the regional anti-insurgent Operation Barkhane in Inaloglog, Mali, on October 17, 2017.

French armored vehicles stand at the Relay Desert Platform Camp in Ansongo, Mali, on October 15, 2017.

Benoit Tessier / Reuters

British Support

The British Prime Minister Theresa May met with the French President to Emmanuel Macron to discuss possible military cooperation. British officials are considering sending Chinook helicopters to support the French.

“We are looking at rotary support or ISTAR [Intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, reconnaissance],” a Whitehall source said to the Times. “The effort is counter-terrorism, to counter organized crime and to help re-establish state authority.”

"The French definitely could benefit from logistical, intelligence, and other support given the constraints on French assets, and have at different times tried to adapt to the changing circumstances in the region," Lebovich told Middle East Eye.

"The partnership is primarily meant to prevent obscure countries from becoming sanctuaries and breeding grounds for militants which could serve as a launch pad for an attack on a Western homeland," Oyawale told MEE.

Objective of Operation Barkhane

Even though at a presidential speech in Niamey, Niger on July 19, 2014, French President François Hollande tactically denies that Barkhane true purpose is assuring France national security and invariably the security of Europe. He did hinted that Barkhane would establish France as a global leader in combating Islamist extremism.

Although, the resolve, determination and commitment of the men of France’s Operation Barkhane is unquestioned however, there are various situations which can cause serious problems and hamper the intervention which are.

1. Regional cooperation

The dissimilarity in language and culture amongst African countries in the Sahel is quite significant although more and more regional actors have recognized the threat posed by Islamists militancy in the region. Notwithstanding, national interest, ethnicity and religion would always be placed ahead of regional interest. It would be a herculean task for France to interweave this intricate socio-political and ethnoreligious multifaceted domain into one entity pursuing a singular goal.

2. France economic and financial posture

It is no news that France is not economically buoyant at the moment. In Europe, France has always been known as the ‘sick man of Europe’. The French economy isn't growing at a very impressive pace, France is the weakest of Europe's big 3 economies. The IMF predicts growth of just 1.4% for France in 2017, one of the weakest rates in the EU. France is also struggling to bring down its unemployment rate, which stands at roughly 10%.

French military budgets is currently on its all-time lowest, with limited financial supports from its major allies the United States and Britain so with all its economic woes, how would France handle Operation Barkhane? With no end in sight, is Operation Barkhane slowly becoming an ambitious and expensive military venture which French economy might not recover from in a long while.

Francafrique

It is quite inevitable to mention France and Africa without the word Francafrique being recalled concisely.

French relations with Africa revolves round the 'Françafrique' concept. In 1958, former French President Charles de Gaulle promised to give independence to French African colonies if he was re-elected, this was primarily due to international pressure and anti-colonization movement in Africa at the time. Not necessarily due to his genuine love for Africa or the continents welfare.

To demonstrate to the world of his ‘goodwill’ President de Gaulle granted independence to many African nations except Algeria whose status was separate. He then clandestinely put his close friend and ally Mr. Jacque Foccart to device a medium to control French colonies even though they were independent.

Françafrique includes all of French-speaking Africa, i.e. former French and Belgian colonies in Africa:

Togo

Republic of the Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Rwanda

Senegal

Côte d’Ivoire

Cameroon

Burundi

Chad

Comoros

Gabon

Burkina Faso

Madagascar

Benin

Tunisia

Morocco

Guinea

Niger

Djibouti

Mali

Central African Republic

Mauritania

Algeria, and also other countries like Equatorial Guinea, where France gained influence after its independence from Spain.

Conclusion

While the French efforts and commitment in Africa is commended,there is still much work to be done. Military intervention is usually the first stage in stabilizing a disturbed region however, for true peace and prosperity to be achieved, practical and pragmatic approach that focuses on economic development, political enlightenment, youth education and poverty eradication have to be implemented.

In taking a more comprehensive approach to addressing the security challenges in the Sahel region, a solid socio-political framework devoid of selfish-interest and "exploit-ism" but rather encouraging participation and dialogue of all regional actors to develop a shared value centered on the regions' interest.

Finally, collaboration between international partners and local authority is vital to sustaining a peaceful solution. Collaboration could include non-military assistance to improve delivery of good governance, engage communities and invest in infrastructural development to dampen the allures of violent extremism.

With no end in sight, would Operation Barkhane heralds France permanent military presence in Africa? Only time will tell...